The Druid of Malice

Falin stepped out of his apartment and into the chaos of the transformed city. The streets, once filled with bustling crowds and the hum of city life, were now eerily quiet except for the distant sound of nature reclaiming the urban sprawl. Massive roots cracked the concrete beneath his feet, and vines coiled around the skeletons of cars and buildings. It was as if the very bones of the city had been devoured by the wild.

For a moment, he stood still, taking it all in. The sheer scale of the change was staggering. The system hadn’t just altered the rules of the world—it had rewritten them entirely. New York City had become a place where nature’s power reigned, and Falin couldn’t help but feel a strange thrill at the sight of it.

But there was no time to marvel. The system had thrown him into this tutorial, and it was clear that survival was the only option.

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**Quest: Survive the Tutorial. Objective: Corrupt 10 living creatures. Progress: 0/10.**

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Falin glanced at the quest prompt again and shook his head. He had already decided to ignore that particular objective—for now, at least. The idea of corrupting living creatures, of giving in to whatever dark power the system was tempting him with, didn’t sit right. He wasn’t ready to become something twisted, even if it meant gaining more strength.

Instead, he focused on the other tip the system had given him.

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**Tutorial Tip: As a Druid, your power is tied to the natural world. Seek out areas where nature thrives to strengthen your abilities.**

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The city was full of places where nature was beginning to take hold, but Falin knew that what he needed was more than a few stray vines. He needed a place where nature was strong, where the forces he commanded could truly flourish. There had to be pockets of wilderness in this transformed landscape—places where the wild had fully overtaken the city’s influence.

He took a deep breath, his eyes scanning the overgrown streets. He needed to move quickly. The longer he lingered, the more likely it was that something dangerous would find him.

Falin made his way down the street, careful to avoid making too much noise. The city felt like a living, breathing thing now, and every rustle of leaves or creak of branches set his nerves on edge. He wasn’t sure what kind of creatures might be lurking in the shadows, but he wasn’t eager to find out.

As he walked, he kept his senses open, trying to tap into the *Wild Instinct* skill the system had granted him. His awareness expanded slightly, allowing him to sense the subtle movements of the plants around him, the way the wind shifted through the trees, and the faint tremors of the earth beneath his feet. It wasn’t much—just a hint of what his abilities might become—but it was enough to keep him alert.

Minutes passed in tense silence as Falin made his way deeper into the city, following the twisted paths created by the invading wilderness. The buildings grew more decrepit the farther he went, their surfaces covered in moss and ivy. It was as if the city had aged a hundred years in a matter of hours.

Then, he felt it—a pull, a faint tug at the edges of his awareness. Something was calling to him, a presence in the distance that felt alive, vibrant. His instincts told him this was what he had been looking for.

Falin quickened his pace, moving toward the source of the pull. The streets narrowed, and soon he found himself standing before a building that had been almost entirely consumed by nature. Thick vines crawled up its walls, and massive roots had broken through the foundation, lifting parts of the structure off the ground. The air here felt different—charged with energy, alive with the hum of the earth.

He stepped closer, his heart beating faster. This was it. This was where his abilities would grow.

The entrance to the building was barely visible beneath the mass of greenery, but Falin pushed his way through the vines, stepping into the shadowy interior. Inside, the air was cooler, and the scent of damp earth filled his nostrils. Sunlight filtered through cracks in the walls and ceiling, casting dappled patterns on the floor. The space felt less like a building and more like a cave, a sanctuary carved out by nature itself.

As he moved deeper inside, he felt the presence grow stronger. It wasn’t just the plants around him—it was something more, something ancient that had taken root in this place. He could feel the power thrumming through the walls, through the very floor beneath him. This was a place where nature had truly thrived, untouched by the corruption of the city.

Falin knelt down, placing his hand on the earth. He closed his eyes and reached out with his mind, drawing on the energy around him. The connection was immediate, like a spark catching fire. He could feel the roots beneath the surface, the life force that flowed through them, the way the plants whispered to each other, sharing their strength. It was raw, untamed power, and it was his to command.

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**Nature Sanctuary Discovered.**

- *Druidic Understanding Boost: innate increase to all knowledge about Nature-based skills while within the Sanctuary.*

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A grin spread across Falin’s face. This was exactly what he needed. Here, he could train, grow stronger, and learn more about the powers the system had granted him. And maybe, just maybe, he could find a way to progress without giving in to the darker path the system kept hinting at.

He stood up and took a deep breath, letting the energy of the sanctuary flow through him. It felt like standing in the heart of a storm, wild and exhilarating. But there was also a sense of peace here, a balance that calmed his racing thoughts.

For the first time since the system had awakened, Falin felt like he had some control. He wasn’t just surviving anymore—he was beginning to understand the rules of this new world.

He took a step forward, deeper into the sanctuary, and began to focus on his skills.

He started with *Summon Roots*, focusing on the feel of the earth beneath his feet. With a flick of his wrist, he called forth the roots again, watching as they slithered up from the floor like snakes. This time, the power felt more fluid, more natural. The roots responded to his commands with ease, twisting and coiling at his will.

He practiced, repeating the motion again and again, letting the skill evolve with each use. Slowly, he could feel it growing stronger, more refined. He could summon more roots now, and they moved faster, more precisely.

After a while, he switched to *Healing Bloom*. This skill was less instinctive for him, requiring a gentler touch. He knelt down, placing his hands on a small cluster of flowers growing near the wall. With a deep breath, he channeled his mana into the plants, watching as their petals glowed softly with a green light.

The flowers bloomed, their colors brightening as the energy flowed through them. Falin smiled. The healing ability felt good—like nurturing life instead of corrupting it.

But even as he practiced, the thought of malice lingered in the back of his mind. The system had offered him power through corruption, and he couldn’t shake the feeling that it wasn’t done tempting him.

Why had he felt that pull earlier? Why had the system seemed to push him toward that path, even though he hadn’t chosen it?

Falin stood, wiping the dirt from his hands. He had no answers yet, but he knew one thing for certain: the system was watching him, testing him. And he would have to be careful.

The tutorial was just the beginning. There were greater challenges ahead, and he would need to be ready.

For now, he would train. He would grow stronger. And when the time came to make a choice, he would be ready.

At least, he hoped he would.

** System Tutorial Announcement **

At Dirt rank enriched members of the universe passively regain all resources due to the inherent influx of mana which feeds all life. -

“What is this?” Falin examined the system window and was curious so Falin said

“Excuse me system does this mean I don,t need to eat, sleep, or drink?”

** Tutorial Tip**

Those of dirt rank still require small amounts of food water and rest to progress and continue on their journey to power properly-

“Interesting,” Falin thought for now Falin had two important goals to find food and water then a safe place to sleep hopefully all will be found in the Nature Sanctuary.